We have activists in the Senate Judiciary & Community Affairs Meeting to advocate against SB 203 - a bill that would expand mandatory minimums.
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We have other activists in the House Judiciary Committee Meeting to advocate in support of HB 450 - the adult expungement bill.
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Both of these bills will have an impact on
#SmartJustice in Delaware. SB 203 would do little to prevent gun crime but it WOULD expand our mass incarceration problem. We must eliminate mandatory minimums - not expand them...Show this thread -
HB 450 would expand the availability of expungement for adults so that more non-violent offenders can move past the life-limiting barrier of having a conviction on their record.
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@Delcollo4DE now speaking on 203 at the Senate Judiciary & Community Affairs mtg.Show this thread -
Kathleen Macrae, ACLU-DE Executive Director, speaks out against SB 203: “I sincerely appreciate the problem that this bill is trying to address... however, I do not believe that we can incarcerate our way out of this problem.”
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“Incarceration hasn’t helped us find our way out of this problem so far... adding more time won’t help, either.”
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“Delaware is known for some of the best judges in the country. This bill would continue to remove discretion of judges without adding to the safety of the community.”
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Brendan O’Neill, Chief Defender of the Office of Defense Services, testifies in opposition as well: “Ratcheting up mandatory minimum sentences across the board is not good policy. ...One size rarely fits all.”
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“The national trend is to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences. ...I know there are good intentions behind this bill, but I don’t think it will be effective. It will likely have unintended consequences.”
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Another consequence of this bill would be an even higher rate of people who choose not exercise their right to trial. - Brendan O’Neill (FYI - 96% of DE cases are decided by plea bargain already)
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This law would also contribute to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. - Brendan O’Neil.
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Kate Parker, Policy Director, Delaware Center for Justice: “We share the concerns voiced that this bill would have a disparate racial impact.”
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Switching gears: HB 450 was released from the House Judiciary Committee!
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Back to SB 203: will the bill be released from committee today after all we’ve heard?
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@MargaretRHenry: I can not let this bill out of committee without further discussion. The bill will stay in committee.Show this thread -
Looks like
#SmartJustice is moving ahead in Delaware today
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End of conversation
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